Fact Friday 240 - The Spanish Flu of 1918 in Mecklenburg County

Happy Friday!

Thoughts on the Spanish Flu of 1918-19 in Mecklenburg County c/o local historian John Blythe: “According to long-standing custom the illness was named after the place it first came to notice. It struck all of Europe, and of America, during the height of the First World War in a winter more severe than any previously recorded. It was brought to the US by troops returning home on crowded troop ships. The Army training camp in Charlotte, Camp Greene, was severally affected. Death often occurring within a day of showing symptoms. It is estimated that half of the 80,000 soldiers, both black and white, came down with it and 1,200 died. The camp was quarantined for two weeks at the height of the disease and schools, churches, and theaters were closed. Coffins were stacked to the ceiling at the rail road station awaiting shipment home while in one location 80 bodies were stacked up waiting burial.”

To read more about Camp Greene and its significance, check out Fact Friday's 14 and 158.

Until next week!

Chris.

Email me at chris@704shop.com if you have interesting Charlotte facts you’d like to share or just to provide feedback!

Information taken from:

May 20th Society on Instagram - @meckdec

“We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and the future.” – Frederick Douglass